CHAPTER 18

Solved Problems
P.18.12 Calculate (a) the operating leverage, (b) financial leverage and (c) combined leverage from the
following data under situations I and II and financial plans, A and B.
Installed capacity, 4,000 units
Actual production and sales, 75 per cent of the capacity
Selling price, Rs 30 per unit
Variable cost, Rs 15 per unit
Fixed cost:
Under situation I, Rs 15,000
Under situation II, 20,000
Capital structure:
Particulars Financial plan
A B
Equity Rs 10,000 Rs 15,000
Debt (0.20 interest) 10,000 5,000
20,000 20,000

Solution
(a) Determination of operating leverage
Particulars Situations
I II
Sales Rs 90,000 Rs 90,000
Less: Variable costs 45,000 45,000
Contribution 45,000 45,000
Less: Fixed costs 15,000 20,000
EBIT 30,000 25,000
Operating leverage 1.5 1.8

(b) Determination of financial leverage

Particulars Situation I Situation II
Financial plans Financial plans
A B A B
EBIT Rs 30,000 Rs 30,000 Rs 25,000 Rs 25,000
Less: Interest on debt 2,000 1,000 2,000 1,000
EBT 28,000 29,000 23,000 24,000
Financial leverage (EBIT/EBT) 1.07 1.03 1.09 1.04

(c) Determination of combined leverage

Particulars Financial plans
A B
Situation I 1.5 × 1.07 = 1.61 1.5 × 1.03 = 1.54
Situation II 1.8 × 1.09 = 1.96 1.8 × 1.04 = 1.87

P.18.13 Skyline Software Ltd has appointed you as its finance manager. The comapny wants to implement
a project for which Rs 30 lakh is required to be raised from the market as a means of financing the projet.
The following financing plans and options are at hand: (Number in thousands)
Particulars Plan A Plan B Plan C
Option 1:
Equity shares 30 30 30
Option 2:
Equity shares 15 20 10
 12% Preference shares Nil 10 10
10% Non-convertible debentures 15 Nil 10

Assuming corporate tax to be 35 per cent and the face value of all the shares and debentures to be Rs
100 each, calculate the indifference points and earnings per share (EPS) for each of the financing plans.
Which plan should be accepted by the company?
Solution
Determination of indifference point under plans A, B, C

Plan A:

OR X – 0.35X = 2(0.65X – Rs 97,500);

X – 0.35X = 1.3X – Rs 1,95,000
OR 0.65X = Rs 1,95,000 or X = Rs 1,95,000/0.65 = Rs 3,00,000
Plan B:

OR
2(0.65X) = 3(0.65X – Rs 1,20,000)
1.3X = 1.95X – Rs 3,60,000
OR X = Rs 3,60,000/0.65 = Rs 5,53,846
Plan C:

OR
OR
X = Rs 5,55,000/1.3 = Rs 4,26,923

Determination of EPS under plans A, B and C for options 1 and 2

Particulars Plan A Plan B Plan C
1 2 1 2 1 2
EBIT Rs 3,00,000 Rs 3,00,000 Rs 5,53,846 Rs 5,53,846 Rs 4,26,923 Rs 4,26,923
Less: Interest — 1,50,000 — — — 1,00,000
EBT 3,00,000 1,50,000 5,53,846 5,53,846 4,26,923 3,26,923
Less: Taxes 1,05,000 52,500 1,93,846 1,93,846 1,49,423 1,14,423
EAT 1,95,000 97,500 3,60,000 3,60,000 2,77,500 2,12,500
Less: Dividend on
preference shares — — — 1,20,000 — 1,20,000
Earnings available for
equity-holders 1,95,000 97,500 3,60,000 2,40,000 2,77,500 92,500
Number of equity ÷ 30,000 ÷ 15,000 ÷ 30,000 ÷ 20,000 ÷ 30,000 ÷ 10,000
shares (N)
EPS 6.5 6.5 12 12 9.25 9.25
P.18.14 The capital structure of the Progressive Corporation Ltd consists of an ordinary share capital of Rs
10,00,000 (shares of Rs 100 par value) and Rs 10,00,000 of 10% debentures. The unit sales increased by
20 per cent from 1,00,000 units to 1,20,000 units, the selling price is Rs 10 per unit, variable costs amount to
Rs 6 per unit and fixed expenses amount to Rs 2,00,000. The income tax rate is assumed to be 35 per cent.
(a) You are required to calculate the following:
(i) The percentage increase in earnings per share.
(ii) The degree of financial leverage at 1,00,000 units and 1,20,000 units.
(iii) The degree of operating leverage at 1,00,000 units and 1,20,000 units.
(b) Comment on the behaviour of operating and financial leverage in relation to increase of production
from 1,00,000 to 1,20,000 units.
Solution
(a) Determination of earnings per share (EPS)
Sales level (units) 1,00,000 1,20,000
Sales revenue Rs 10,00,000 Rs 12,00,000
Less: Variable costs 6,00,000 7,20,000
Less: Fixed costs 2,00,000 2,00,000
EBIT 2,00,000 2,80,000
Less: Interest 1,00,000 1,00,000
Earnings after interest 1,00,000 1,80,000
Less: Taxes 35,000 63,000
EAT 65,000 1,17,000
Number of equity shares 10,000 10,000
EPS (EAT ÷ N) 6.5 11.7

(i) Percentage increase per share

(ii) DFL (at 1,00,000 units) (at 1,20,000 units)
(iii) DOL (at 1,00,000 units) (at 1,20,000 units)
(b) As a result of increase in production and sales from 1,00,000 units to 1,20,000 units, EPS has gone up
by 80 per cent. Moreover, there has been a decrease in both types of leverages–operating as well as
financial–reflecting a decline in the total risk of the company.
P.18.15 X Ltd, a widely held company, is considering a major expansion of its production facilities and the
following alternatives are available:
Particulars Alternatives (Rs lakh)
A B C
Share capital 50 20 10
14% Debentures — 20 15
Loan from a financial institution @ 18 per cent — 10 25

The expected rate of return before interest and tax is 25 per cent. The rate of dividend of the comapny is
not less than 20 per cent. The company at present has no debt. The corporate tax rate is 35 per cent. Which
of the alternative would you choose, assuming maximising ROR on equity capital as the objective of the
firm?
Solution
Rate of return (ROR) on equity capital under proposed financial alternatives
Particulars Financing alternatives (Rs lakh)
A B C
EBIT (Rs 50 lakh × 0.25) 12.5 12.5 12.5
Less: Interest on debentures — 2.8 2.1
Less: Interest on loan — 1.8 4.5
EBT 12.5 7.9 5.9
Less: Taxes (0.35) 4.375 2.765 2.065
EAT 8.125 5.135 3.835
ROR on equity capital (%) 16.25 25.675 38.35

Alternative C is the best.

P.18.16 Consider the following information for Strong Ltd: (Rs in lakh)
EBIT 1,120
EBT 320
Fixed cost 700

Calculate the percentage of change in EPS, if sales increase by 5 per cent.

Solution
Degree of combined leverage (DCL) = (Degree of operating leverage × Degree of financial leverage)
=
DCL =
Alternatively, DCL can be determined as
DCL =
*Sales – VC i.e., Contribution = EBIT + Fixed costs = Rs 1,120 lakh + Rs 700 lakh = Rs 1,820 lakh
DCL = (Contribution/EBT) i.e. (Rs 1,820 lakh/Rs 320 lakh) = 5.6875
5.6875 = Percentage change in EPS/Percentage increase in sales
Percentage change in EPS = Percentage increase in sales × 5.6875 = 5% × 5.6875 = 28.4375 per cent
5 per cent increase in sales will cause 28.4375 per cent increase in EPS

Review Questions
18.13 From the following selected operating data, determine the break-even sales level and the degree of
operating leverage. Which company has the greater amount of business risk? Explain.
Particulars A B
Sales Rs 25,00,000 Rs 30,00,000
Fixed costs 7,50,000 15,00,000

Variable expenses as a percentage of sales for firm A are 50 per cent and for firm B are 25 per cent.
18.14 From the following financial data of companies X and Y for the current year ending March, prepare
their income statements.
Particulars X Y
Variable costs as percentage of sales 50 60
Interest expenses (Rs) 20,000 6,000
Degree of operating leverage 3 5
Degree of financial leverage 2 3
Income-tax rate (0.35)

18.15 X Company Ltd is considering three different plans to finance its total project cost of Rs 100 lakh.
These are:
Particulars Plan A Plan B Plan C
Equity (Rs 100 per share) 50 34 25
Debt - 10% Debentures 50 66 75
100 100 100

Sales for the first 3 years of operations are estimated at Rs 100 lakh, Rs 125 lakh, and Rs 150 lakh
and a 10 per cent profit before interest and taxes is forecast. The corporate taxation is to be taken at
35 per cent. Compute EPS in each of the alternative plans of financing for the three years.
18.16 From the following, prepare income statement of company A, B and C. Briefly comment on each
company’s performance:
Particulars A B C
Financial leverage 3:1 4:1 2:1
Interest Rs 200 Rs 300 Rs 1,000
Operating leverage 4:1 5:1 3:1
Variable cost as percentage to sales 66.67 75 50
Tax rate 35 35 35

18.17 (a) The following figures relate to two companies: (Rupees in lakh)
Particulars P Ltd Q Ltd
Sales 500 1,000
Variable costs 200 300
Contribution 300 700
Fixed costs 150 400
(Contd.)
EBIT 150 300
Interest 50 100
Profit before tax 100 200

You are required to: (i) calculate the operating, financial and combined leverage for the two
companies; and (ii) comment on the relative risk position of the firms.
(b) (i) Find out operating leverage from the following data:
Sales, Rs 50,000
 Variable costs, 60 per cent
Fixed costs, Rs 12,000
(ii) Find the financial leverage from the following data:
Net worth, Rs 25,00,000
Debt/Equity, 3:1
Interest rate, 12 per cent
Operating profit, Rs 20,00,000
18.18 Calculate operating, financial and combined leverage under situations when fixed costs are (a) Rs
5,000 and (b) Rs 10,000 for financial plans 1 and 2 respectively from the following information
pertaining to the operation and capital structure of a leather manufacturing company.
Total assets Rs 30,000
Total assets turnover 2
Variable cost as per cent of sales 60
Capital structure: Financial plan
1 2
Equity Rs 30,000 Rs 10,000
10% Debentures 10,000 30,000

18.19 A company is considering methods of financing its establishment. Initially Rs 2,00,000 will be needed.
The company is considering two proposals for the purpose: (i) issue 15% debentures of Rs 1,00,000
and issue of 1,000 equity shares of Rs 100 each, (ii) issue of 2,000 equity shares of Rs 100 each.
The corporate tax rate is 35 per cent.
1. (a) Compute the indifference point of the above proposed two financial plans.
(b) Show that indifference point computed in (a) above is correct.
(c) Compute EPS under the two proposed financial plans if EBIT is Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000.
How do you explain the difference in your results?
2. Assume that levered financial plan is used. Initially the company is expected to operate at a level
of 1,00,000 units (selling price, Rs 2 per unit; variable costs, Re 1 per unit and fixed costs Rs
50,000). Your calculations will show increase in EBIT, compared to assumed level of EBIT in 1 (c)
of Rs 40,000. What is the percentage increase in EPS due to increase in EBIT? Use these figures
to compute the degree of financial leverage.
3. Assuming everything to be the same as given in situation 2 except that sales rise by 20 per cent
from 1,00,000 units to 1,20,000 units,
(a) Compute the percentage increase in EPS.
(b) What is the degree of operating leverage (take, 1,00,000 units as the base level)?
(c) Determine the combined leverage.
18.20 Determine the indifference points of the financial plans (1) A and B and (2) A and C formulated by the
finance department of the company to finance its capital budget, assuming 35 per cent corporate tax
rate:
(A) Issue 1,00,000 equity shares of Rs 20 per share.
(B) Issue 50,000 equity shares of Rs 20 per share and 10% debentures of Rs 10,00,000.
(C) Issue 50,000 equity shares of Rs 20 per share and 12% preference shares of Rs.10,00,000.
Do you subscribe to the view that at indifference level of EBIT, since the EPS is same for all
types of plans, the market value per share would also be the same?
18.21 A company has the choice of issuing 10% debentures or Rs 100 equity shares to raise Rs 20 lakhs to
meet its long-term investment requirements. Its current capital structure consists of 20,000 ordinary
shares of Rs 100 each and 8% debentures of Rs 10,00,000 and 12% preference shares of Rs
10,00,000.
Determine the level of EBIT at which EPS would be the same whether the new funds are acquired
by issuing ordinary shares or by issuing 10% debentures. Tax rate is 35 per cent.
18.22 A textile company has EBIT of Rs 1,60,000. Its capital structure consists of the following securities:
10% Debentures Rs 5,00,000
12% Preference shares 1,00,000
Equity shares of Rs 100 each 4,00,000
The company is in the 35 per cent tax bracket.
(a) Determine the EPS.
(b) Determine the percentage change in EPS associated with 30 per cent increase and 30 per cent
decrease in EBIT.
 (c) Determine the degree of financial leverage.
18.23 Calculate operating leverage and financial leverage under situations A, B and C, and financial plans I,
II and III respectively from the following information relatng to the operations and capital structure of
XYZ Company for producing additional 800 units.
Also, find out the combination of operating and financial leverages which gives the highest value
and the least value. How are these calculations useful to the finance manager of the company?
Selling price per unit, Rs 30
Variable cost per unit, 20
Fixed costs:
Situation A Rs 2,000
Situation B 4,000
Situation C 6,000
Capital structure:
Financial plan
Particulars I II III
Equity Rs 10,000 Rs 15,000 Rs 5,000
Debt (0.12) 10,000 5,000 15,000

18.24 A company is considering lowering the selling price of its product. The following information is
available on the costs of producing and the income from selling its product.
Units sold 3,00,000
Unit sales price Rs 10
Variable cost 6
Fixed cost 6,00,000
Net operating income 6,00,000
(a) The management has asked you to prepare a table indicating the percentage increase in volume
necessary to maintain a net operating income at the current level on product with decrease in
price of 10 per cent and 20 per cent, assuming other costs remain constant.
(b) Assuming everything to remain the same as described in situation (a) with the difference that it is
possible somehow to decrease the fixed cost by 20 per cent, prepare the new table.
18.25 The Aditya Mills Ltd has submitted to you the following 4 ways of financing its expansion programme.
Assuming the objective of the company is to maximise the EPS, which plan would you recommend?
The corporate tax rate is 35 per cent. The key information relating to the 4 plans are as follows:
Source of funds 1 2 3 4
Equity shares Rs 58,500 Rs 37,500 Rs 83,500 Rs 25,000
Preference shares Nil 11,250 of 7,500 of
Rs 100 each Rs 100 each Nil
@ 10% at 9%
Debentures Rs 15,00,000 Rs 10,00,000 Nil Rs 25,00,000
@10% @11% @12%

Also find the following:

(a) Financial break-even point for each plan.
(b) Determine the degree of financial leverage associated with each plan assuming EBIT of
Rs 10,00,000.
(c) Discuss the circumstances in which each plan would be most acceptable.

ANSWERS
18.13 BEP(A) = Rs 15,00,000, BEP(B) = Rs 20,00,000, DOL(A) = 2.5, DOL(B) = 3.
18.14 Earnings after taxes = X, Rs 13,000 and Y Rs 1,950.
18.15 EPS (Rs 6.5 for plans A, B, C) in year 1; Rs 9.75, Rs 11.28 and Rs 13 in year 2; Rs 13, Rs 16.06 and
Rs 19.5 in year 3.
18.16 EAT (Company A and B Rs 65); EAT Rs 650 for Company C.
18.17 (a) OL, 2; FL, 1.5; CL, 3 (Company P)
OL, 2.33; FL, 1.5; CL, 3.5 (Company Q).
(b) (i) 2.5; (ii) 1.82
18.18 DOL 1.26 (fixed costs = Rs 5,000), DOL = 1.71 (Fixed costs = Rs 10,000); DFL 1.05 and 1.08
 (Financial Plan 1), DFL 1.19 and 1.27 (Financial Plan 2). DCL 1.33 and 1.84 (Financial Plan 1), DCL
1.5 and 2.18 (Financing Plan 2).
18.19 (i) (a) Rs. 30,000, (b) EPS is Rs 9.75 in both the plans, (c) EPS is Rs 9.75 and Rs 16.25 (under 1st
plan at the EBIT level of Rs. 30,000 and Rs. 40,000 respectively); EPS is Rs 9.75 and Rs 13 (under
2nd plan at the EBIT level of Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000 respectively). Leverage starts becoming
favourable after the EBIT of Rs 30,000. Therefore, the financial plan, having debt-equity mix yields
higher EPS compared to pure equity plan 40% (percentage increase in EPS), DFL = 3.
(a) 57.14% (b) 2.0, (c) DFL 1.43, DCL 2.86.
18.20 (1) Rs 2,00,000 (2) Rs 3,69,231. No, the market price of a share would be more for a plan which has
higher proportion of equity in its capital structure.
18.21 Rs 6,64,615.
18.22 (a) Rs 14.875, (b) 52.98%, (c) 1.75.
18.23 OL, 1.33 (A), 2 (B), 4 (C)
FL: Plan I, 1.25 (A), 1.42 (B), 2.5 (C)
Plan II, 1.11 (A), 1.18 (B), 1.43 (C)
Plan III, 1.43 (A), 1.82 (B), 10.0 (C)
CL: Highest, 40 and lowest, 1.48.
18.24 (i) 20% (prices are reduced by 10%), 60% (prices are reduced by 20%);
(ii) Required sales volume would be Rs 3,60,000 units (when prices are reduced by 10%) and Rs
5,40,000 units (when prices are reduced by 20%).
18.25 (a) Rs 1,50,000 (Plan 1), Rs 2,83,077 (Plan 2), Rs 1,03,846 (Plan 3), Rs 3,00,000 (Plan 4); (iii) At
assumed level of EBIT of Rs 10 lakhs, DFL is 1.18 (Plan 1), 1.39 (Plan 2), 1.11 (Plan 3), 1.43 (Plan
4).